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It seems to me that this has been a hard year for many people. I’m not talking politics… though there is that. When the year began, I was facing a future I’d have never chosen willingly and was feeling pretty devastated. Soon, however, I realized that I was not the only one going through a difficult time.

Fritatta for Maureen

I’ve watched a dear friend lose her spouse of many years, saw another friend succumb to illness, and yet another friend go through chemo. You don’t have to look hard to find trouble all around. And yet…. During this time I have been buoyed by friends who have stopped by to write words of encouragement on the chalk board at my front door. Other friends have sent cards or called to check in. What I am saying is that my journey through grief has not been a solitary one.

And still, whenever I can, I bake a pie or make a dinner for someone who I think needs to be reminded that they also are not alone. Though I rarely say the word, love is what I hope to bring to these folks. And what I find amazing is that after seeing someone made happier by a gift of my food, I always find that I feel better.

An Apple Blueberry Pie for the reunion

Along those same lines, my daughter, Alexandra, is visiting this week and yesterday she read me an article by Elizabeth Gilbert that had us both in tears. Here is an excerpt:

We live in a hard world, my friends. Sometimes it’s extra difficult to be a human being. Sometimes you have a bad day. Sometimes you have a bad day that lasts for several years. You struggle and fail. You lose jobs, money, friends, faith, and love. You witness events unfolding in the news, and you become fearful and withdrawn. There are times when everything seems cloaked in darkness. You long for the light but don’t know where to find it.

But what if you are the light? What if you’re the very agent of illumination that a dark situation begs for?

When you think about the many people that you come into contact with each day, it’s easy to imagine how you can have a positive impact on someone’s life simply by being a beacon of light. No need for heroic measures here, just show up, smile, hold the door, maybe even share a hug. Be willing to share a moment of your time with someone who might need it more than you’ll ever know. Or you just might try baking someone a pie. It seems to work for me!

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. Audrey Hepburn